Pete Berwick - Island (2019)

Is “Cowpunk” a real genre, I mean does it actually exist or is it just another uber rebrand or marketing whip? God knows but if Pete Berwick falls into the Cowpunk category then it’s got a new fan. ‘Island’ is his seventh album and my first but like discovering a new Netflix boxset it offers that lovely catch up feeling. Opener ‘I’m Getting Tired Of This Place’ is modernistic outlaw poetry which lands lyrical jab after jab to a campfire background of acoustic guitars, mouth organ and attitude. The slowly bubbling ‘Anyway’ rises above the sidewalk steam and proudly bare’s its nicotine-stained soul while ‘Just Make You And Me Tonight’ is a mournfully beautiful love song. An Americana upbeat ‘One Setback At A Time’ has a respectful Cash texture before title track ‘Island’ crashes head first on to the rocks of solitude. Berwick’s lived in delivery has a superlative last orders/reformed drinker quality that oozes regret, hope and heroism which when paired with some perfectly placed dual female vocals, sparkles.. ‘I’m Not Afraid’ strums into heartbreak central but it’s ‘They Gave Love A Chance’ that smothers Jack, Diane, Tommy and Gina in a steel town blanket of reality rather than fantasy. ‘I’m Really Not That Kind’ goes the full JC and the album certainly has the great mans spirit, touch and stamp. Country music is not my normal listening of choice but eight tracks into ‘Island’ and I’m strangely hooked, this is a melancholy toffee of an album. Final cut ‘The Streets Of Pasadena’ plants a feather-light kiss on the stubbled chin of this grizzled, earthy and life-affirming release. Timeless.